Tue, 05/01 | Women's Tennis vs. Queens (N.Y.) L, 5-4 (Final) BX | RC
Mon, 04/30 | Women's Tennis at Stonehill W, 5-3 (Final) BX | RC
Sun, 03/25 | Women's Tennis vs. Indiana (Pa.) L, 6-3 (Final) BX | RC
Fri, 03/23 | Women's Tennis vs. Dist. Columbia (Cancelled)
Sun, 10/23 | Women's Tennis vs. Goldey-Beacom W, 5-2 (Final) BX | RC | PH

November 12, 2008

Clipper Tennis Teams Enjoy National Success

11/12/2008

Clipper Tennis Teams Enjoy National Success

Bronxville, NY - Bolstered by outstanding play and dominating performances over the past few seasons, the Concordia College men's and women's tennis teams both find themselves nationally ranked in the latest Division II polls. The men's tennis team is currently ranked #8 in NCAA Division II and the women's tennis team comes in ranked #39 in NCAA Division II, as released by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) poll on October 31st.

The men's tennis team is no stranger to the national rankings and the NCAA Division II Men's Tennis Championships, having reached the Round of 16 the last four seasons. The Clippers have reached #8 in the nation after finishing the 2007-2008 season ranked 11th in the country.

The Clippers are led by sophomore Alex Grubin (Belgrade, Serbia), who is currently ranked second in the nation in singles play in Division II. Grubin won the top singles flight at the West Point Invitational back on September 14th and teamed up with junior Henning Ruenz (Muelheim-Kaerlich, Germany) to win the doubles flight as well. The sophomore also qualified for the 2008 ITA National Small College Championships in Mobile, AL in October. Grubin, who won this tournament the previous year as a freshman, lost 6-3, 6-1 in the finals to Eudaldo Bonet of Armstrong Atlantic State, who is the current #1 player in Division II men's tennis. In doubles play, Grubin partnered with sophomore Richard Malobicky (Pulheim, Germany) at the ITA National Small College Championships. The duo placed third overall by defeating Ryan Hudson and Juan Nunez of Abilene Christian University. Grubin and Malobicky are currently ranked 4th in NCAA Division II men's tennis.

In the East Region of Division II men's tennis, Concordia has been ranked #1 for several consecutive seasons. The Clippers hold the top four singles spots in the East Region, with Grubin, freshman Andrey Boldarev (Tashkent, Uzbekistan), Malobicky and Ruenz topping the list. Senior Karim Belhadj (London, England) also makes the list at #7 in the East Region and pairs with senior Vito Galatioto (Yonkers, NY) to come in at #10 in the East Region.

The women's tennis team captured the 2008 East Coast Conference Women's Tennis Championships this season with a 5-2 victory over Queens College, giving the Clippers an automatic berth into the NCAA Division II Women's Tennis Tournament in May 2009.

Concordia is led by the ECC Player of the Year Cristina Oliveira (Porto Allegre, Brazil), who finished the year undefeated in both singles and doubles matches. Senior Somadi Druker (Capetown, South Africa), who won the ECC Player of the Year award in 2007, also went undefeated in singles and doubles matches this season. Oliveira and Druker are currently ranked 2nd and 3rd in the NCAA Division II East Region, while senior Celise Sesanker (Scarborough, Trinidad & Tobago) is ranked 7th in the East Region. Druker and Sesanker are a formidable pair on the doubles circuit, as they are tied for 25th in the nation and #1 in the East Region.

Freshman Maria Ortiz (Bogota, Columbia) was named ECC Rookie of the Year this season after posting a 7-2 singles mark and an undefeated 11-0 record in doubles play with Oliveira. Ortiz and Oliveira are ranked #3 in the East Region. Head coach Kela Simunyola also received recognition by being named ECC Coach of the Year after guiding the Clippers to a perfect 11-0 record, an NCAA Women's Tennis Tournament berth and the first National ranking for Concordia College.